Electric range connector



July 21, 1970 R. w. SEBASTIAN ,5

- ELECTRIC RANGE CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 30, 1968 .15 J6 Z2 Z0 20 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 339-14 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A separable plug-and-socket connector for the individual burners or heating elements of an electric range, the plug element of which is rigidly connected to the heating element, and the socket element of which is mounted by a bracket in semi-fixed position.

It is common practice to make the individual heating elements of electric ranges removable for cleaning or fo replacement. As to individual cleaning by the home owner, it is only necessary that the connection to the heating element be flexible. Thus, for replacement, the connections have in the past been rather complicated and expensive, and have generally involved at least one screwthreaded connection.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simpler and less expensive connection for the individual heating elements of an electric range.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide connections for the individual heating elements of an electric range which are entirely plug-in and do not rely on screw-threaded devices.

Furthermore, in a preferred form of the invention it is an object thereof that the plug element of a separable connector be rigid with the heating element, and that the socket element be mounted in semi-fixed position from which it can be moved along a predetermined path for ready movement of or complete removal of the heating element.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompaying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a range element connector and mounting bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof on a somewhat enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged side view of the socket or receptacle element;

FIG. 5 is a front or entering end view thereof; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of the plug element.

Turning now in greater particularity to the drawings, there will be seen a fragmentary side view in FIG. 2 of a conventional electric range heating element 10 in the form of a flat, spiral core and a supporting bracket structure. The core includes an outer tubular shell 12 of somewhat triangular cross section as is readily seen in FIG. 1. An electric resistance heating wire 14 is mounted within the shell or tube 12, and is insulated therefrom. As is well known, in the manufacture of such units the heating wire is placed in the tube and spaced therefrom by an insulating powder prior to bending of the tube.

The ends of the tubing 12 are proximate to one another and extend through a sheet metal terminal fitting 16 (seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 6). The ends of the tube 12 form a force fit in the sheet metal terminal fitting 16, and extend slightly past the sheet metal as indicated at 18 in FIG. 2. A pair of metal pin male terminals 20 is respec- 3,521,217 Patented July 21, 1970 ice tively welded onto the ends of the resistance wire 14, extending from the tubing ends 18 and being insulated therefrom by bushings 22 of silicone rubber which seal the ends of the tube. The sheet metal terminal fitting 16 is of somewhat T shape (FIG. 6), with the cross bar holding the ends of the tube 12 and the depending, rather short, stem 24 having a rounded lower surface and being apertured for receipt of a staked pin or rivet 26 having a head 28. The pin 26 extends parallel to the pins 20 and forms a grounding pin. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the openings 30 receiving the extending ends 18 of the tube 12 open downwardly through the lower edge of the cross bar of the T shaped fitting 16, thereby providing downwardly directed retaining fingers 32 which resiliently grip against the tube 12 to hold it firmly in the fitting. It will be observed that the somewhat triangular shape of the tube precludes any tendency for it to work down out of the bottom of the openings at 30.

The fitting 16 and the pins 20, 26 form a male connector or plug 34 which is cooperable with a female connector or socket 36 of molded plastic construction and generally complementary to the plug. The socket 36 is preferably molded of the phenolic compound or composition generally known as Bakelite. The plug is of generally rectangular outline when viewed from the top or bottom, or from either side; and in section or viewed from the front as in FIGS. 1 and 5, the socket will be seen as including a base 38 having a bore 40 therethrough with a female terminal 42 therein. The socket further includes a pair of upstanding cylindrical portions 44 having longitudinal bores 46 therethough parallel to the bore 40 and likewise having female terminals 48. The female terminals 42 and 48 preferably are of the type shown in John H. Krehbiel US. Pat. 3,178,673, and the bores 40 and 46 are provided with suitable internal shoulders as shown at 48 in FIG. 4 for anchoring the terminals. Wires 50 are secured to the female terminals in the manner taught in the aforesaid Krehbiel patent, and the terminals detachably receive the pins 20 and 26.

The socket 36 is completed by a foot 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of, but shorter than the remainder of the socket. The foot 50 is of an inverted T shape, including a wide flange 52 spaced from and connected to the base 38 by a narrow neck 54.-

A bracket 56 is provided for mounting the socket 36 on the framework of the range or stove. The bracket comprises an elongated sheet metal stamping having a relatively large opening 58 therein which is just large enough to accommodate the flange 52 of the foot 50. An elongated slot 60 opens into the opening 58 and is of sufficient width to pass the neck 54. As will be seen, the socket is mounted on the bracket 56 by lowering the flange 52 through the opening 58, and then by shifting the socket longitudinally to bring the neck 54 into the slot 50, with the flange 52 underlying the bracket.

The opening 58 and slot 60 are formed in a body portion 62 of the bracket, and a reversely bent or hooklike finger 64 is formed on the free end of this body to provide for mounting thereof. Reversely bent or hooklike fingers 66 are provided at the opposite end of the body 62 along the sides thereof and beyond the opening 58, being in opposition to the finger 64. The bracket continues rearwardly and downwardly from the body portion 62 as shown at 68, and further includes a reversely formed mounting piece 70 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bracket extension 68. The mounting piece 70 is provided with aligned apertures 72 for receipt of a screw, rivet, or other suitable fastener for permanently mounting the bracket on a desired part of the stove or range.

The bracket is mounted on a suitable part of the range by moving it sideways to hook the fingers 64 and 66 under a suitable complementary part of the range, following which a screw or rivet or the like fastener is passed through the apertures 72 to preclude further sideways movement such as might shift the bracket from its mounting. As has been noted previously, the flange 52 of the foot 50 is lowered through the opening 58, and the socket is then shifted longitudinally to bring the neck 54 into the slot 60, with the flange underlynig the slot. The socket 36 or female connector is readily removed by opposite movement, and in some instances it is contemplated that the socket or connector might be used without the bracket 56.

The specific example of the invention as herein shown and described will be understood as being for illustrative purposes. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A plug and socket connector as for an electric range, comprising a sheet metal terminal fitting, a pair of male connector pins fixed t and extending from said terminal fitting and electrically insulated therefrom, a third pin fixed to said fitting in electric engagement therewith, all of said pins extending in the same direction from said fitting and parallel to one another, the three pins lying on the apices of an Isosceles triangle, and a complementary socket of insulating material having three metallic female connectors therein for respectively receiving said pins.

2. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the terminal fitting is substantially T-shaped, with the pair of pins lying adjacent opposite ends of the cross bar and the third pin being located on the stem.

3. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fitting is provided with a pair of edge opening apertures respectively receiving members from which said pins project.

4. A connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein the 4 fitting is generally T-shaped, with the edge opening apertures being in the cross arm adjacent the opposite ends thereof.

5. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the third pin comprises a rivet.

6. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the socket comprises a generally rectangular block of insulating material having one of said metallic female connectors therein, and further including a pair of integral insulating cylindrical extensions along adjacent corners of said block and respectively bearing the other two of said female connectors.

7. A connector as set forth in claim 6 and further including afoot extending from said socket block on the opposite side from said cylindrical extensions, said foot comprising a relatively wide flange spaced from said block by a relatively narrow neck.

8. A connector as set forth in claim 7 and further including a mounting bracket for said socket, said mounting bracket comprising a sheet metal member having an aperture therein substantially complementary to said flange for passing said flange, and having an elongated slot opening from said aperture for receiving said neck with said socket moved longitudinally of said bracket after movement of said flange through said aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,186,601 1/ 1940 Borkenstein. 2,875,426 2/1959 Skony. 3,381,258 4/1968 Becker.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner R. A. HAFER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

